defy

1 to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of <in those days a woman was brave if she defied fashion and wore white after Labor Day> Synonyms disobey, mock, rebel (against)Related Words disoblige; mutiny (against), revolt (against); disregard, ignore, overlook, overpass, pass over, tune out; brush off, dismiss, flout, pooh-pooh (also pooh), reject, scoff (at), scorn, shrug off, wink (at); breach, break, infringe, transgress, violate; buck, combat, contest, dispute, fight, oppose, resist, withstandNear Antonyms capitulate (to), concede (to), defer (to), goose-step (to), serve, stoop (to), submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to); cooperate (with); keep, observe; accede (to), acquiesce (to), agree (to), assent (to), oblige; attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, watchAntonyms comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey

2 to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat <after missing the target, she defied her boyfriend to do better> Synonyms dare, challenge, stumpRelated Words beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, face, outbrave, outface

3 to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage <a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm> Synonyms beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, face, outbrave, outfaceRelated Words face up (to), front; affront; challenge; encounter, meet; accost, approach, corner; repel, resist, stand, withstand; battle, combat, contend (with), fight, oppose, square (off)Near Antonyms avoid, eschew, shun; elude, escape, evade, shakeAntonyms dodge, duck, funk, shirk, sidestep

4 to refuse to give in to <a bicyclist who regularly defies illness and infirmity in order to compete in races> Synonyms buck, resist, fight, oppose, repel, withstandRelated Words battle, combat, contend (with); challenge, contest, contradict, dispute; baffle, balk, foil, frustrate, thwart; check, counter, hinder, obstruct, stemAntonyms bow (to), capitulate (to), give in (to), knuckle under (to), stoop (to), submit (to), succumb (to), surrender (to), yield (to)